Bonelli and Fontana US Cups

The racing season is well underway after the first few US Cups. Bonelli Park and Fontana were the last two consecutive weekends, hosting world class fields with both races having over 100 racers. With this being my first full season as a Pro I started near the back of the field both weekends, but am excited to be working my way closer to the front each time I race.

Bonelli park is one of my favorite national series courses. Lots of steep climbs and descents, along with man made A-Lines that keep it interesting. Feels as close to a European race course as we get in the US. After a solid preride on Friday I knew I had good legs and was feeling fast on the course. I was excited to go out and race hard after some problems in the first round in Texas. My start position wasn't great, lining up on one of the last rows in the field of over 110 pros. Although it can be intimidating to be looking forward at a sea of riders before I even start it also can be inspiring, a challenge to see how far I can work my way through the pack.

The start was pretty crazy, as to be expected, but I avoided most of the problems and I was able to maintain my position to the first climb where I started to make moves. Although there were a couple wide sections of the trail, there was a significant amount of singletrack. This made passing a little challenging, definitely had to plan to take advantage of every wide spot possible. The 85 degree heat along with the endless climbing really made for a tough race but I seemed to be feeling better every lap, continually passing riders.

This was the first race I have competed on my new FRM Factory Racing Anakin 29er. By far the best hardtail I have ridden. Super light and snappy but also has incredible vertical compliance to create a smooth ride. The Anakin begs to be ridden fast which is a great feeling when you are hurting in a race. Everyone needs to try one of these bikes, FRM has set a new standard for hardtail mountain bikes,  an absolutely exceptional ride.

In the end I moved up about 40 spots to 52nd position. Not a result that I wanted, but part of the process of working my way up towards the front of the field. Going into Fontana next weekend Ill be closer to where I want to be in the start, so mission accomplished. Before we headed back to Flag, I still had the short track to go. Short tracks are crazy fun and I was excited to race hard and work my way up again in the field. Unfortunately one negative of such a short and intense race is that if you have a problem there isn't much of chance to get back in the race. On the first lap I was taken down by a guy trying to make a sketchy pass putting me in second to last position in the field of over 70 riders. I worked my way up for as long as I could but there just wasn't enough time to work as far up the field as I wanted to. I left the short track frustrated with a lot of fire that I really wanted to take out next weekend at Fontana.

I've never been a huge fan of Fontana's cross country courses but I was inspired from last weekend to put down a good result. Again on Friday I got out to preride the course. Definitely different than what I was expecting. Only one big climb every lap, much different than last weekend with lots of ups and down. The style of Bonelli was more of what I was expecting but the benefit of having one big climb is that you also get a big descent. Almost the entire back side of the course was a rad, flowing descent on the side of the mountain. There were also some techy rock sections to keep it interesting.

On Saturday my start position wasn't great again, but it was a bit better than last weekend. To my surprise the field was even bigger than Bonelli with more than 120 guys. The start was hectic but there was a lot more room to pass in the first few minutes this weekend. I attacked hard off the start, knowing that I had to get up through the field fast. After the first lap I had moved up into 32nd position and was feeling solid. Unfortunately I think I had gone for it a little to hard and  going into the third lap I could feel that my legs were really started to fade. I kept the calories coming in and tried to keep it going as well as I could.

Over the next few laps I ended up fading back some. Every once in a while the legs would come around but as I crossed the line I wasn't happy with my performance. I had pushed it way too hard at the start but I was at least able to finish the entirety of the race where nearly half the field got pulled.

Like Bonelli, the Fontana Short Track was the next day. During my warm up I took a few laps and was really happy with the course. Had a couple tight corners, a short climb, and a really fun descent, perfect course in my opinion. Started towards the back of the field again, but off the start I pushed hard and started working up fast through the field. Nearing the end of the race I reached a group with a few fast U23 guys in it. I kept the pace high in the group and on the last lap I attacked hard up the climb. I got a gap on the other U23s and then had a close sprint finish with one of the other guys in the group. I rolled across the line satisfied. Felt good to have worked my way up to where I want to be, finishing in the 20s.

Short track is where you can really test a bike capabilities. The racing is so intense and you are constantly stressing your bike, whether it be sprinting up climbs or railing the tight corners. Again my FRM Factory Racing Anakin 29er impressed me. Never thought a hardtail could be this fun.

Overall a couple successful weekends of racing in California. I really am determined to keep moving forward in the cross country races and will work hard in preparation for my next race, the Sea Otter Classic. Thanks for everyone's support, feels great to always have the best equipment, support crew, and cheers out on the course!

Havasu MBBA

With a rad new bike and a fresh course, I rolled into the third round of the MBAA State Championship Series excited to race. I was surprised by the quality of the course in Havasu, after hearing many mixed reviews at the earlier races of the state series. It was one of my favorite race courses ever, full of rippin, perfectly bench cut, single track, in the mountains overlooking Lake Havasu.

Saturday morning I rolled up to the line focused and ready. Although my legs were feeling a bit tired from the hard training block that I had just completed for the US Cup the next weekend, I knew if I battled hard I could be fast on this course. Seeing TJ Woodruff on the line always makes me nervous though, knowing how strong and consistent he is race after race.

It was finally go time and when the whistle blew my FRM Anakin Full 29" rocketed off the line. I've never ridden a bike so responsive and stiff, no power is wasted into frame flex. I got the whole shot and decided to lead it out for awhile. I kept the pace high and within a couple miles it was down to only TJ and I. As soon as we were alone we started trading pulls, every moment was full gas. TJ was attacking every hill and I was pushing it on the fast single track sections. I knew by the conclusion of our first of 3, 10 mile loops we had gained a significant gap on the rest of the pro field.

Over the next couple laps the pace didn't lessen at all. I would work hard on the climbs to try and stay on TJ's wheel while trying to use my strengths on the descents to recover and keep the pace high.

In the end I was able to pull out the win. I rolled across the line totally smoked. The course and my competition had pushed me to the limit. Perfect preparation for the first US Cup the next weekend.

I would like to thank FRM Factory Racing for making sure I have the best equipment to achieve my goals this year. Havasu was my first race on my new FRM Anakin Full and I couldn't have been happier. It pedals amazingly well with an impressive suspension design that keeps things light while virtually eliminating pedal bob. When its gets rough the suspension opens up and creates one of the best descending cross country bikes I have ridden. Coming in at a weight similar to most hard tails, the FRM Anakin Full is as good as it gets.

Interview with Shea Chavez, Geiger Coaching Athlete

Rad interview Shea Chavez. Shea is riding for Pivot Cycles this year and is planning on doing the Pro XCT Circuit. She is an amazing rider and all around great person, it will be really cool to see her progress this year. There is also a mention of my new business, Geiger Coaching. Geiger Coaching is a Professional Coaching Service for all types of cyclists! More to come on Geiger Coaching, but I am really excited to be working with Shea to help her achieve her goals. Her blog can be seen at: sheachavezcycling.blogspot.com. Follow her to see updates on her racing and training throughout the season!

 Interview with Shea Chavez, Geiger Coaching Athlete!

MBAA State Series McDowell

Always excited for the first race of the year, even more so if it is on one of my favorite courses, the competitive loops at McDowell Park. Although this race is very early in the year and mostly used for training, it still feels good when the nerves start setting in. I crave those nerves, that feeling that I have been deprived of for a couple months.

We arrived on Friday afternoon. Headed out on a preride right away with Shea Chavez, who is now racing for Pivot Cycles. It felt amazing to be in the Phoenix sun, even to get hot, after being up in the colder temperatures of Flagstaff. The course was in great shape, there were even a few new berms that had been added to one of the smaller loops. The backside of the long loop, Southridge, was nice and rocky which is always a fun part on a relatively fast and smooth course. My legs felt great and all in all I was extremely excited to race. The only thing left to do before the race was to rest and put in a few laps on the pump track that was 50 feet away from our trailer.

Saturday morning I woke up ready to go. I was excited, but kept focused on dialing in my pre race morning preparations that I will transfer over to some of the bigger races later in the season. As I put on my Pissei Clothing I got an instant boost of confidence. Wearing comfortable and rad looking kits always gets me stoked. Its going to be a great to always get that feeling as I get dressed out, now that I have the best in Italian comfort and style with my Pissei Clothing.

Some of the Pissei Clothing that I will be wearing for the season!

After a good warm up and catching up with some of the riders on AZ Devo I headed to the line. I got a good position, shifted to the right gear and was ready to go. The minutes flew by on the start line, before I knew it the countdown had started... 3, 2, 1, Go!!!!!

I sprinted hard off the start line, making sure I would get the holeshot into the single track. I quickly settled into a solid pace up the short climb right after the start. To my surprise, by the top of the climb, there were only three of us. Lance Runyan, TJ Woodruff, and I proceeded to lengthen our gap over the rest of the field throughout the lap. I sat at the front for the entirety of the first 10 mile loop. I wanted to test out my legs and see how the other guys would respond to little accelerations I would do. I felt strong and was planning on opening it up on the second lap.

We rolled into the second lap all still together, I was feeling stronger than I did at the beginning of the lap and was ready to start throwing down. TJ took the lead on one of the fast headwind sections so I took time to recover. After about 10 minutes of sitting on I decided to go right before one of the more rocky and technical parts of the course. I checked back often to see the gap getting larger and larger. I felt relieved getting to the top of Southridge, the most technical part of the course, with a gap. I knew I could put more time on the other guys on this section, so I pushed hard. Unfortunately a few minutes into Southridge I heard the horrific sound of air and Stans spewing from my rear tire. I hopped off and shot my tire up with my CO2. I got back on, hoping that it would seal up but it didn't. At that point I knew I would have to put a tube in. I pulled off to the side and started on the repair as I watched Lance and TJ rocket by.

I put in the tube quickly and got back going, hoping that I could possibly fight my way back to those guys...to my disbelief less than a quarter mile later I had to deal with a broken chain. By the time I was done fixing the chain quite a few racers had passed me and I was definitely ready to race off some frustration. I attacked hard and passed every guy I saw. In the process I put down the fastest Sport Loop of the day to go along with my fastest Long Loop of the day. I managed to work my way back into third position before crossing the line. 

Although I was frustrated to have had the problems I did, I was thankful that they had happened at this race and not one of the many other races later in the year. I felt accomplished in knowing that I felt extremely good for this time of year, giving me even more inspiration to work hard towards the next few races. Although it might not have been the result I was hoping for, I took more from this race than most of the wins I have. I had a great time racing with TJ and Lance, both extremely good guys on and off the course! Stoked to have more battles with them throughout the rest of the season. 

TROPIX-FRM Factory Racing

I'm very excited to announce that I will be racing for the TROPIX-FRM Factory Racing Team for the 2014 season. We will be aboard FRM hand made carbon bicycles with Marozzochi Suspension, wearing Pissei Clothing, Limar Helmets along wtih DMT Shoes. Excited to race on this prestigious UCI mountain bike team!

FRM Anakin Full  29er XCR1

FRM Anakin SLK 29er XCR1

Marzocchi 320 LCR Carbon Fork and Roco Light Shock

Limar Ultralight+ MTB

DMT Lynx

Pissei Clothing